Newcastle United make first move for Jonathan David in bid to beat Man Utd bidding war

Newcastle United have joined the queue to sign Lille star Jonathan David later this year. The striker is set to be one of the most sought-after players in Europe this year.

Chronicle Live understands that the Magpies were represented by a high-level club employee in the stands for Lille's 2-1 victory in Ligue 1 over Nice. The Canada international is set to leave the French club on a free transfer this summer with his agent Nikos Mavromaras, who is telling sources close to the star that he is open to options around Europe.

Qualifying for the Champions League would appear to be an important factor for David. But Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Manchester United are also keen. The latter have been strongly linked with the forward this month.

The 25-year-old - deemed a dream signing by a lot of Newcastle fans - did not score against Nice on Friday night but assisted Hákon Haraldsson in the narrow win for his side. David has 101 Ligue 1 goals in just 213 matches and is the real deal and Canada boss, and former Leeds chief Jesse Marsch said recently: "I’ve advertised him often as the most intelligent footballer I’ve ever coached."

David is joint top scorer in Ligue 1 with 11 goals and is 13th in the chase for the European Golden Boot. It remains to be seen whether Newcastle scouts are in the stands at Anfield for the Champions League group stage clash against Liverpool this evening.

Lille president Olivier Letang has already warned that the Ligue 1 side won't sell David this month, pointing to a summer exit. This is despite the striker being out of contract.

Letang said in November: "We are not going to sell him in January and we have not received any offer for him. Jonathan’s situation is super simple. We are very happy to have you with us. Last off-season, he had one year left on his contract. We could qualify for the Champions League. When you have a guy who scores 20-25 goals a season. We had no obligation to sell him. He is a player who scores between 20 and 25 goals and qualifies for the Champions League.

"Plus, Jonathan loves Lille which is his club. Our position was very clear from the beginning, we think of the athlete. Obviously, he already has an offer (contract) that is in his hands, the ball is in his court."

Eddie Howe would love to land a quality option like David next summer and if the deal was a free transfer, the Magpies could afford his wage demands of around £120,000 per week. But there is every chance of a bidding war when it comes to wages, something agent Mavromaras would clearly relish.

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with the player over the last few days. David already has 19 goals in all competitions this season for club and country but hasn't found the net in his last five games for Lille.

Having scouted Bryan Mbeumo last week in the 2-2 draw between Brentford and Man City, Newcastle appear to be getting their ducks in a row for the summer. They are also keeping an eye on Mbeumo's club teammate Sepp van den Berg.